After vs. Before — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
"After" indicates a subsequent time or event, while "Before" signifies a preceding time or event.
Difference Between After and Before
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"After" and "Before" hold key positions in English linguistics, acting as conduits for temporal expressions, each with distinct roles in navigating through the chronological order of events and states.
The word "After" serves to position an event, state, or circumstance in a temporal sequence where it follows another, essentially locating it later in time or order, often used to communicate actions, conditions, or occurrences that happen subsequently.
On the other side, "Before" effectively reverses this temporal positioning, allocating the event, state, or action it modifies to a point in time that precedes another, often connoting a sort of anticipation or preceding condition relative to another temporal point.
Both "After" and "Before" are pivotal in constructing narratives, organizing experiences, and articulating plans or memories, serving as reference points that anchor events in a temporal continuum, ensuring coherence and logical flow.
While "After" often implies a causal or consequent relationship with a prior event, "Before" might carry an implication of precedence or priority, sometimes even expressing a preventive or cautionary condition in various contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Temporal Orientation
Subsequent in time or order
Preceding in time or order
Typical Usage
Denotes following
Denotes preceding
Example Usage
“After the rain”
“Before the rain”
Connotation
Can imply result
Might imply anticipation
Function in Narrative
Indicates consequence or succession
Indicates precondition or antecedence
Compare with Definitions
After
Subsequent in time
I will call you after 5 PM.
Before
During the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)
She had to rest before dinner
His playing days had ended six years before
It's never happened to me before
The day before yesterday
They lived rough for four days before they were arrested
After
In the time following (an event or another period of time)
After a while he returned
He'd gone out with his secretary for an after-work drink
Shortly after their marriage they moved to Colorado
Before
In front of
Matilda stood before her, panting
Trotting through the city with guards running before and behind
After
Behind
She went out, shutting the door after her
Before
In preference to; rather than
They would die before they would cooperate with each other
A skilled warrior who places duty before all else
After
In pursuit or quest of
Chasing after something you can't have
Before
During the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)
The day before yesterday
It's never happened to me before
She had to rest before dinner
They lived rough for four days before they were arrested
His playing days had ended six years before
After
Next to and following in order or importance
In their order of priorities health comes after housing
Before
In front of
Trotting through the city with guards running before and behind
Matilda stood before her, panting
After
In allusion to (someone or something with the same or a related name)
They named her Pauline, after Barbara's mother
Before
In preference to; rather than
They would die before they would cooperate with each other
A skilled warrior who places duty before all else
After
During the period of time following (an event)
Duke Frederick died soon after
Bath time ended in a flood after the taps were left running
Before
During the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)
It's never happened to me before
The day before yesterday
She had to rest before dinner
His playing days had ended six years before
They lived rough for four days before they were arrested
After
During the period of time following (an event)
Duke Frederick died soon after
Bath time ended in a flood after the taps were left running
Before
In front of
Trotting through the city with guards running before and behind
Matilda stood before her, panting
After
Later
He was sorry in after years
Before
In preference to; rather than
They would die before they would cooperate with each other
A skilled warrior who places duty before all else
After
Nearer the stern of a ship
The after cabin
Before
Earlier in time
They called me the day before.
After
Behind in place or order
Z comes after Y in the alphabet.
Before
In front; ahead.
After
Next to or lower than in order or importance.
Before
Previous to in time; earlier than.
After
In quest or pursuit of
Seek after fame.
Go after big money.
Before
In front of.
After
Concerning
Asked after you.
Before
In store for; awaiting
The young man's whole life lies before him.
After
Subsequent in time to; at a later time than
Come after dinner.
Before
Into or in the presence of
She asked that the visitor be brought before her.
After
Subsequent to and because of or regardless of
They are still friends after all their differences.
Before
Under the consideration or jurisdiction of
The case is now before the court.
After
Following continually
Year after year.
Before
In a position superior to
The prince is before his brother in the line of succession.
After
In the style of or in imitation of
Satires after Horace.
Before
In advance of the time when
See me before you leave.
After
With the same or close to the same name as; in honor or commemoration of
Named after her mother.
Before
Rather than; sooner than
I will die before I will betray my country.
After
According to the nature or desires of; in conformity to
A tenor after my own heart.
Before
Earlier than (in time).
I want this done before Monday.
After
Past the hour of
Five minutes after three.
Before
In front of in space.
He stood before me.
We sat before the fire to warm ourselves.
After
(Irish) Used with a present participle to indicate action that has just been completed
"Sure I'm after seeing him not five minutes ago" (James Joyce).
Before
In the presence of.
He performed before the troops in North Africa.
He spoke before a joint session of Congress.
After
Behind; in the rear.
Before
Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).
The case laid before the panel aroused nothing but ridicule.
After
At a later or subsequent time; afterward
Three hours after.
Departed shortly after.
Before
In store for, in the future of (someone).
After
Subsequent in time or place; later; following
In after years.
Before
In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.
In alphabetical order, "cat" comes before "dog", "canine" before feline".
After
Located near the stern of a vessel or the rear or an aircraft or spacecraft.
Before
At a higher or greater position than, in a ranking.
An entrepreneur puts market share and profit before quality, an amateur intrinsic qualities before economical considerations.
After
Following or subsequent to the time that
I saw them after I arrived.
Before
At an earlier time.
I've never done this before.
After
Afternoon.
Before
In advance.
After
Afters Chiefly British Dessert.
Before
At the front end.
After
Behind; later in time; following.
I left the room, and the dog bounded after.
They lived happily ever after.
I might come next month, or the month after.
Before
In advance of the time when.
After
Subsequently to; following in time; later than.
We had a few beers after the game.
The time is quarter after eight.
The Cold War began shortly after WWII.
After you with the salt/paper.
I told her to shut the door after her.
Before
(informal) Rather or sooner than.
I'll die before I'll tell you anything about it.
After
Behind.
He will leave a trail of destruction after him.
Before
In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.
His angel, who shall goBefore them in a cloud and pillar of fire.
After
In pursuit of, seeking.
He's after a job; run after him; inquire after her health.
Before
Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; - sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.
Before Abraham was, I am.
Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
After
In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing.
We named him after his grandfather; a painting after Leonardo da Vinci.
Before
An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
The golden age . . . is before us.
After
Next in importance or rank.
The princess is next in line to the throne after the prince.
Before
Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.
He that cometh after me is preferred before me.
The eldest son is before the younger in succession.
After
As a result of.
After your bad behaviour, you will be punished.
Before
In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
Abraham bowed down himself before the people.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?
After
In spite of.
After all that has happened, he is still my friend.
I can't believe that, after all our advice against gambling, you walked into that casino!
Before
Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.
After
Used to indicate recent completion of an activity
I was after finishing my dinner when there was a knock on the door.
Before
Open for; free of access to; in the power of.
The world was all before them where to choose.
After
(dated) According to an author or text.
Before
On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; - opposed to in the rear.
The battle was before and behind.
After
Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to.
To look after workmen; to enquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness
Before
In advance.
After
(obsolete) According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting.
Before
In time past; previously; already.
You tell me, mother, what I knew before.
After
Signifies that the action of the clause it starts takes place before the action of the other clause.
I went home after we had decided to call it a day.
Before
Earlier; sooner than; until then.
When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.
After
(dated) Later; second (of two); next, following, subsequent
Before
Earlier in time; previously;
I had known her before
As I said before
He called me the day before but your call had come even earlier
Her parents had died four years earlier
I mentioned that problem earlier
After
At or towards the stern of a ship.
The after gun is mounted aft.
The after gun is abaft the forward gun.
Before
At or in the front;
I see the lights of a town ahead
The road ahead is foggy
Staring straight ahead
We couldn't see over the heads of the people in front
With the cross of Jesus marching on before
After
Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period of life.
Before
Earlier than
Finish your homework before dinner.
After
Hinder; nearer the rear.
Before
In the presence of
He presented it before the committee.
After
Behind in place; as, men in line one after another.
Before
In preference to
She puts her career before everything.
After
Below in rank; next to in order.
Codrus after Ph bus sings the best.
Before
In front of in place
Stand before the door.
After
Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause.
After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Before
Used to preface a remark
Before you go, switch off the lights.
After
Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said, I shall be careful.
After
Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you took that course.
After
Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of.
Ye shall not go after other gods.
After whom is the king of Israel come out?
After
Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness.
After
In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes after his father.
Our eldest son was named George after his uncle.
After
According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature of; as, he acted after his kind.
He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes.
They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh.
After
According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting.
He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value.
After
Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he follows after.
It was about the space of three hours after.
After
Located farther aft
After
Happening at a time subsequent to a reference time;
He apologized subsequently
He's going to the store but he'll be back here later
It didn't happen until afterward
Two hours after that
After
Behind or in the rear;
And Jill came tumbling after
After
Following the occurrence of
After the concert, we went for dinner.
After
In pursuit or search of
The cat ran after the mouse.
After
In spite of
He succeeded, after many failures.
After
In the name of
The ship is named after the explorer.
Common Curiosities
Can “Before” indicate position?
Yes, “before” can indicate position in space, as in “before the house.”
Can “After” begin a sentence?
Yes, “After” can start a sentence to introduce a dependent clause.
Can “After” imply consequence?
Yes, e.g., “After the warning, they left.”
Can “Before” signify importance?
Yes, e.g., “Place safety before convenience.”
Can “After” denote behind in space?
Yes, e.g., “He is after you in line.”
Can “Before” be a conjunction?
Yes, e.g., “Leave before I get angry.”
Is “Before” always related to time?
No, "before" can also relate to order or precedence in non-temporal contexts.
Can “After” reference days of the week?
Yes, e.g., “See you on Monday after next.”
Can “After” imply desire?
Yes, e.g., “She is after a promotion.”
Can “After” be used to indicate cause?
Yes, "after" can imply a sequential or causal relationship in some contexts.
Does “After” work in future tense?
Yes, “After” works with various tenses, including future, e.g., “after we will eat.”
Does “Before” work in past tense?
Yes, “Before” can work with past tense, e.g., “I saw him before.”
Can “Before” introduce a question?
Yes, e.g., “Before you ask, I don’t know.”
Does “After” work in expressions?
Yes, e.g., “after all” means despite evidence to the contrary.
Is “Before” an antonym of “After”?
Yes, in many contexts, they have opposite meanings related to time/order.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
